Connect with us

Published

3 weeks ago

on

US-government-EVs
Oshkosh USPS electric mail carrier (Source: Oshkosh)

The Senate version of the repubilcans’ tax bill won’t just add trillions of dollars to the deficit through a massive giveaway to wealthy elites, it will also take the US Postal Service’s awesome new EVs and sell them off for pennies on the dollar, wasting money simply out of spite for vehicles that were already cleaning your air and making your community safer.

The Postal Service has used the same Grumman LLV vehicles for decades, produced from 1986-1994. So, some of these trucks are nearly 40 years old, and all of them are at least 30 years old.

The vehicles are showing their age – they get poor mileage, they break down often (or catch fire, as about 100 of the old gas guzzlers did last year), they emit significant pollution, and they have poor ergonomics.

So, in 2015, the USPS started the process of finding a replacement.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

After many bids and back-and-forth (including startups going out of business), the USPS, led by Postmaster Louis DeJoy, picked Oshkosh’s “Next Generation Delivery Vehicle” (NGDV) as the next postal vehicle.

The vehicle has a goofy look to it, but it’s a goofy look for a reason.

The large window gives exceptional visibility, meaning the kids and pets that are likely to occupy residential areas are easier to see, and thus easier for drivers to avoid.

The low hood further enhances safety, by reducing damage done to a human body in a crash (unlike the land yachts which are so popular with consumers and have contributed to pedestrian deaths reaching all-time highs).

And the tall roof makes it easier for drivers to enter and exit, reducing strain on their bodies which means lower labor costs overall – less injury, drivers potentially being able to stay in their jobs longer, and so on.

But that’s just talking about the look of the vehicle – there are even more beneficial features, like much more cargo space, driver assistance safety features (around-view cameras, blind spot monitors and collision sensors), and air conditioning, something the original LLVs lacked (and which is only becoming more necessary as the planet heats up).

As for powertrain, the NGDV is available in both gas and electric options, with the gas version getting a paltry 8.6mpg (similar to the old LLVs), but the electric version being naturally much more efficient.

Electrification is a perfect choice for most delivery vehicles. These vehicles do set daily routes with lots of starting and stopping, in neighborhoods where people live and breathe, and return back to the same place every night. It’s an ideal application for EVs, for the vast majority of rotues.

Higher efficiency electric drive means money savings on fuel and maintenance for most routes. Overall, a highly electrified fleet was estimated to save taxpayers $4.3 billion over its lifetime.

But perhaps the most obvious benefit of electric mail trucks is the lack of pollution in the places where people spend most of their time: at home. (I don’t know about you, but my mail carrier’s broken truck stinks up the place every day, forcing me to close the windows as it fails to start half the time – and I’m pretty sure this is a common experience)

Despite these benefits, at first, USPS planned to buy only 10% EVs, with the remainder being gas. But after that announcement, several entities (including Electrek) pointed out that even by USPS’ uncharitable calculations, EVs would save money for the vast majority of routes (and that’s not considering health and environmental benefits).

Thankfully, reason prevailed over time, and the USPS gradually increased its plan such that it eventually said it would buy only electric trucks after 2026, with relatively few gas trucks acquired before then for the few routes that electric isn’t suitable for. It’s also supplementing those purchases with some off-the-shelf Ford E-Transits to function as delivery vehicles, with fewer custom features but an easier rollout as E-Transits are readily available.

The NGDV has suffered delays, but as the truck has finally started to roll out, it’s been enormously popular. When the truck started use last year in Atlanta, drivers immediately loved it. They loved the new features, better safety, and less stress on their bodies.

Republicans move to undo these improvements, wasting taxpayer dollars

And so, of course, republicans are now threatening this unequivocally good thing in a way that’s only going to cost taxpayers more money and ensure that your mail costs, the pollution you breathe in your home and the danger to your neighborhood all increase.

As reported by the Washington Post, Senate republicans are considering a version of the tax bill that would auction off these vehicles, at pennies on the dollar, seemingly simply out of spite for the program.

As usual, republican justifications for the billions of dollars in waste they’re proposing don’t stand up to even the slightest amount of scrutiny.

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul stated that the plan “aims to cut unnecessary costs and focus USPS on delivering mail and not achieving the environmental initiatives pushed by the Biden Administration.”

But Paul ought to know this is false, because he’s part of the Senate, the body that approved these vehicles in the first place in 2022 (and, if you remember your high school civics class as Paul apparently does not, the Senate is not part of the “Biden Administration”). Nor is the USPS directly part of any presidential administration, since it is an independent federal agency, and during the bidding process was headed by Louis DeJoy, who was appointed during one Mr. Donald Trump’s first stint squatting in the White House.

Paul should also know that the bidding process started in 2015, and thus that the majority of it occurred while nobody named Biden was in the White House in the first place.

He also ought to know that most of that money is already spent, and selling off items the USPS already owns for pennies on the dollar doesn’t “save” anyone any money. Neither does having to buy all new gas vehicles, with higher fueling and maintenance costs, to replace them – this is the very definition of “unnecessary costs.”

Worse, falling back to the old LLVs and restarting the bidding process for their replacement would take more time and cause more waste. And in the interim we’d be stuck with these “obsolete” vehicles which, as covered above, are inefficient, unsafe, lack features, and routinely catch fire. All of this gets in the way of the focus on delivering mail.

So, Paul is either lying or stupid, but given the letter after his name, we’re pretty sure it’s both.

The USPS rightly pointed out what a stupid idea this is, stating “The funds realized by auctioning the vehicles and infrastructure would be negligible. Much of infrastructure is literally buried under parking lots, and there is no market for used charging equipment” (hmm, tearing out charging equipment for no benefit at all? where have we heard that before…). It said this action “will seriously cripple our ability to replace an aging and obsolete delivery fleet.”

It further urged the Senate “to pause and consider the substantial harm this proposal would cause to the Postal Service and our customers, your constituents.”

But, given the republican party’s current direction, maybe that exhortation would backfire. Harm seems to be precisely what they want, as reflected in everything they’re doing these days.

If you do happen to be one of those constituents, particularly in a republican state, it might be worth giving your Senator a call and asking them to stop wasting your money and raising your mail costs by selling off money-saving vehicles that promise to clean the air of your community. Here’s where you can find their contact info.

Among republicans’ proposed cuts is the rooftop solar credit. That means you could have only until the end of this year to install rooftop solar on your home, before republicans raise the cost of doing so by an average of ~$10,000. So if you want to go solar, get started now, because these things take time and the system needs to be active before you file for the credit.

To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here. – ad*

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

All-new ALLPOWERS R1500 LITE station $405 (49% off), Gotrax F1 2.0 e-bike new $560 low, EcoFlow 35L GLACIER bundle low, more

Published

3 hours ago

on

July 16, 2025

By

All-new ALLPOWERS R1500 LITE station 5 (49% off), Gotrax F1 2.0 e-bike new 0 low, EcoFlow 35L GLACIER bundle low, more

We’ve got a jam-packed Green Deals with plenty of low prices in our post-Prime Day market, with today’s edition led by the preorder launch deal on ALLPOWERS’ new R1500 LITE Portable Power Station at $405. Right behind it is Gotrax’s F1 2.0 20-inch Folding e-bike with five add-on accessories hitting a new $560 low, as well as EcoFlow’s 35L GLACIER Classic Portable Fridge/Freezer with an add-on battery at a new $859 low. We also have returning low prices on several Heybike models during its current weekend flash sale, like the Mars 2.0 Folding e-bike coming with $198 in free gear at $899. We’re also seeing EGO’s 56V 25-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit back at its $269 low, and have a special one-day-only low price on Birdfy’s Feeder 2 Duo with dual cameras at $330. Plus, there’s all the hangover Prime Day savings in our Prime Day Green Deals hub at the bottom of the page, as well as yesterday’s Tenways e-bike sale, the new low price hitting DJI’s latest Power 2000 station, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

ALLPOWERS launches new R1500 LITE 1,056Wh LiFePO4 power station for preorder at $405

ALLPOWERS has launched its latest backup power solution for preorder with a significant discount through July 25. Until shipping begins, you can pick up the R1500 LITE Portable Power Station for $405 shipped, after an additional 10% savings is automatically added in your cart. This all-new unit will carry a full $799 price tag after these pre-sale savings end, with the brand offering a large 49% markdown right out of the gate, giving you $394 in savings and setting the bar for future discounts. On the same landing page, you’ll also find its many bundle options for varying sizes of accompanying solar panels.

ALLPOWERS’ new R1500 LITE station is the latest compact backup power solution from under the brand’s flag, coming with a 1,056Wh LiFePO4 capacity that is rated for over 3,500 life cycles, which would support you for over nine and a half years were you to discharge and recharge it every day. From its 12 output port options, it delivers up to 1,600W of steady juice to your devices, surging as high as 3,200W for hungrier appliances. Following a trend we’re seeing with each new power station that comes out, this one is designed to operate at “whisper-quiet” 35dB, so as not to disturb your sleep should you have it running at night.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The ALLPOWERS R1500 LITE station provides the usual remote smart controls you’d expect, giving you the ability to monitor its charging process and adjust settings all from your smartphone via the companion app. To recharge the station’s battery, you have four options. First, a standard wall outlet can have it back to full in 1.5 hours or you could connect up to its 650W max solar input to reach a full battery in 1.6 hours. There’s also the option to plug it into your car’s auxiliary port, as well as the ability to utilize both AC and solar for hybrid fast-charging that only takes a single hour.

Gotrax F1 2.0 Folding e-bike

Gotrax’s F1 2.0 20-inch folding e-bike comes with five add-on accessories at a new $560 low

Amazon is now offering the Gotrax F1 2.0 20-inch Folding e-bike at $559.99 shipped. While it carries a $999 MSRP direct from the brand, we see it occasionally keep to $799 in full at Amazon, with discounts so far this year having kept costs down as low as $625. You’re looking at a $239 markdown off the going rate ($439 off its MSRP), giving you a solid budget-friendly commuting option at the best new price we have tracked to date.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike and this deal, you can check out the full breakdown in our original coverage here.

EcoFlow GLACIER Classic 35L Portable Fridge/Freezer bundle

EcoFlow’s 35L GLACIER Classic portable fridge/freezer comes with an add-on battery at its $859 low

EcoFlow’s official Amazon storefront is undercutting its direct pricing on the GLACIER Classic 35L Portable Fridge/Freezer with an add-on battery for $859 shipped at Amazon, while picking it up direct from the brand’s website would cost you an additional $90. This bundle package with the add-on battery usually goes for $1,098 in full, which we’ve been seeing keep down around $949 recently. Prime Day saw it hit the $859 low for the first time before rising back in price over the weekend, until now. You can pick it up here with a $239 markdown, equipping you with an ice-free option for outings at the best price we have tracked.

If you want to learn more about this electric cooler/freezer, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

Heybike Mars 2.0 folding e-bike

Heybike summer flash sale drops Mars 2.0 fat tire folding e-bike with $198 in free gear back to its $899 low (Save $798 total)

Heybike has launched a Summer Flash Sale through July 20 that is seeing many of its e-bikes return to their lowest prices alongside solid savings on others. The standout is the popular Mars 2.0 Fat Tire Folding e-bike that comes with $198 in free gear at $899 shipped. The sale is bringing costs down from its $1,499 full price tag, which we regularly see drop between $999 and $1,099 during sales, occasionally falling further to the $899 low in flash events like this one. It’s coming back around again with $798 in total savings (including the free large basket and front basket you’ll get) at the best price we have tracked. Head below for more on this model and the others we’re seeing benefit from savings.

If you want to learn more about this e-bike or the other models seeing discounts during this flash sale, be sure to check out our original coverage here.

EGO 56V 25-inch cordless hedge trimmer

EGO’s 56V 25-inch cordless hedge trimmer kit gets larger post-Prime Day savings back to its $269 low

Amazon is offering a post-Prime Day return to the lowest pricing on the EGO Power+ 56V 25-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit for $269 shipped. Normally costing $349 at full price, we saw this same rate appear a month ago and hold out until the end of June, when it rose back up for the first week of July and only fell to $300 for Prime Day. Now, with that event having ended, the costs are coming back down with $80 in total savings to the best price we have tracked.

You can learn more about this electric lawn care solution by checking our original coverage here.

Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo smart bird feeder with camera

Get up close and personal with feathered visitors through Birdfy’s Feeder 2 Duo at $330 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo with Camera at $329.99 shipped, while matching in price at Amazon. It carries a $430 MSRP direct from the brand, while sitting down lower at $420 at Best Buy. The deal we’re seeing here, which will only last through the rest of the day, gives you a 21% markdown off the going rate (23% off the MSRP), providing you with a $90 price cut ($100 off the MSRP) at the best price we can find. What’s more, this deal is coming in $20 under the direct pricing we’re seeing from the brand’s website, while over at Amazon the price is unmoved from its $

If you want to learn more about this advanced smart feeder system, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

The new Chevy Bolt EV is coming soon and it’s getting some big upgrades

Published

3 hours ago

on

July 16, 2025

By

The new Chevy Bolt EV is coming soon and it's getting some big upgrades

new-Chevy-Bolt-EV

Chevy is bringing back the beloved affordable electric hatch. The new Chevy Bolt EV is expected to arrive later this year, featuring over 300 miles of driving range, faster charging, and more.

When will Chevy launch the new Bolt EV?

Many were sad to hear that GM was ending production of the iconic electric hatch in late 2023, but CEO Mary Barra promised a new Bolt EV was on the way.

Barra claimed the updated model would offer “an even better driving, charging, and ownership experience.” It will be based on GM’s Ultium platform, which powers current Chevy, Cadillac, GMC, and Honda electric vehicles sold in the US.

The platform will offer significantly longer driving range and faster charging speeds than the outgoing Bolt. GM also said it will use LFP batteries to lower costs.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Although LFP batteries typically offer less range compared to NMC, the new Chevy Bolt EV is expected to arrive with over 300 miles of driving range. Given that the Chevy Silverado EV WT offers up to 492 miles of EPA-estimated range, 300 miles for the Bolt EV shouldn’t be too hard, even with LFP batteries.

new-Chevy-Bolt-EV
2022 Chevy Bolt EUV (Source: GM)

GM’s president, Mark Reuss, confirmed the new model will be a part of a “family of Bolts,” which will include an even more affordable variant.

After announcing plans to invest $4 billion in ramping up US production last month, GM said a new “next-gen affordable EV” was in development. It will be built in Kansas, alongside the new Chevy Bolt EV. Whether this model is part of the family of Bolt’s or not remains unclear.

GM-low-cost-EV-batteries
GM plans to build a “next-gen affordable EV) in Kansas (Source: GM)

With an official debut expected later this year, we’ve seen the new Bolt out for testing. Although it keeps the overall feel of the outgoing Bolt, it appears to have a more crossover-SUV look, similar to the Trax.

According to Edmunds, GM’s Super Cruise hands-free highway tech will be available on the upcoming Bolt EV. In the previous generation, it was only offered on the bigger EUV model.

new-Chevy-Bolt-EV
Chevy Silverado (left), Equinox (middle), and Blazer (right) EVs at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: GM)

With some GM electric vehicles now arriving with a built-in NACS port for Tesla Supercharger access, the new Bolt will likely also feature it.

GM is set to begin production later this year, with the new Chevy Bolt EV expected to be available in mid-2026. Prices and final specs will come closer to launch, but the first model from the Bolt EV family is likely to start at a slightly higher price than the $28,785 MSRP of the outgoing model, given the upgrades.

Chevy-Equinox-EV
2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)

Meanwhile, Chevy already has an affordable model that’s helped it become the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. The Chevy Equinox EV, or “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV,” as GM likes to call it, starts at under $35,000. With the $7,500 EV tax credit, the price of the base LT model drops to just $27,495.

With leases starting at just $289 per month, it’s no wonder the electric SUV is selling like hotcakes. GM expects the Chevy Equinox EV to be among the top-three-selling EVs by the end of 2025.

Ready to test one out for yourself? We’ve got you covered. You can use our link to find deals on the Chevy Equinox EV at a dealer near you (trusted affiliate link).

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Rivian has extended its R1 lease deals into September, with savings as high as $15,500

Published

4 hours ago

on

July 16, 2025

By

Rivian has extended its R1 lease deals into September, with savings as high as ,500

Rivian lease deals

We’ve already reached peak summertime (crazy), and your back patios aren’t the only thing heating up. Rivian has extended its lease deals, which apply to a range of R1S and R1T configurations. Combined with federal tax credits, you could save upwards of $15,000 on a new Rivian EV.

Today’s latest deals update is an extension (and a welcome one at that) of two separate lease deal programs that Rivian announced earlier this summer. In May, we reported that Rivian had begun a “Nothing But Adventure” lease offer, which covered the $6,500 down payment on the lease of any R1 EV with a dual motor configuration with the Max battery pack and performance upgrade package.

However, that deal was originally set to expire on May 31, 2025. In June, Rivian followed up with a second deal called the “Summer Adventure Offer,” which included $5,000 off the purchase or lease of a new Tri-Motor R1 EV if customers took delivery by June 30.

Below, we have broken down Rivian’s latest offers, which include revamped lease deals that have been extended through the rest of the summer.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Rivian lease deals
Source: Rivian.com

Rivian lease deals on dual, tri motor R1S and R1T EVs

Rivian sent an email earlier today outlining details of its latest lease offers, which include multiple deals valid through September 1, 2025. That includes the previously mentioned “Nothing But Adventure” offer, which now pertains to any 2025 Tri-Motor R1S or R1T lease.

Similar to the May 2025 deal, Rivian will contribute $6,500 toward the down payment of said lease, as long as you place your order by September 1 and take delivery by September 30. Combined with the $7,500 federal EV lease credit and a $1,500 bonus from Rivian for trading in any vehicle, you can save as much as $15,500. Check out all the terms and conditions here.

Rivian’s “Summer Adventure Offer” expired last month. Still, the American automaker has followed up with a new “Summer Lease Offer” that applies to any 2025 Dual Motor R1 model with the performance upgrade. Combined with the federal credit and Rivian Energy Refresh bonus of $1,500, customers can save up to $14,000 on an R1S or R1T with a Max battery pack, and up to $12,000 with those dual models with the Large pack.

Per Rivian, the summer lease offers between $3,000 and $5,000 will be applied directly to your 2025 Dual Motor order as long as it’s on or before September 1, 2025, and delivery is taken by September 30. To peruse the lease deals, you can connect with a Rivian sales advisor or go to R1 Shop.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending